ATKINS — The Atkins High School (AHS) After Prom Committee raised $1,800 through ticket sales and concessions with its donkey basketball fundraiser Friday evening.

A crowd of nearly 500 squeezed into the old gym to watch the red team — led by school board member Mark Coffman — come back from an 11-6 halftime deficit to defeat the white team — led by Superintendent Mark Gotcher — with a final score of 24-22.

Gotcher scored the first basket of the night from three-point range.

“That was the luckiest three-point hook shot in the history of mankind,” he said at halftime. “I haven’t done that since 1987.”

Several AHS students, teachers and coaches competed as well as Lt. Rowdy Sweet of the Pope County Sheriff’s Office and radio personality Jarrett Jackson.

Sweet scored several points for the white team in the first half, but chalks it up to experience. He competed in another donkey basketball game four years ago.

He said he wanted to do his part to help raise money for After Prom.

“I want to help raise money for it,” he said. “After Prom keeps kids safe so they’re not out going to other parties.”

After Prom is a drug- and alcohol-free post-prom event funded by donations and money raised through events such as this.

“After Prom is important so students can still have fun, but it keeps us off the streets and safe,” Joey Vaughn, AHS senior who played for the red team, said.

The After Prom event is April 12 and costs around $10,000. Donations are still being accepted and can be mailed to Jessica Wygal at AHS. Checks should be made payable to AHS After Prom.